Product Description
(2007 Independent Publisher Award Bronze Medalist, Health/Medicine/Nutrition category)

All children with cerebral palsy and other conditions that result in gross motor delays need help and reinforcement to learn basic motor skills, usually with assistance from a physical therapist. Because the degree of developmental delay varies greatly from child to child, a thorough motor evaluation is an important step before establishing a specific therapy plan.

This new guide, written by an experienced physical therapist, provides parents with a complete understanding of how the physical characteristics of cerebral palsy and similar conditions--muscle tightness and weakness, increased or decreased flexibility, abnormal reflexes, impaired sensory perception--affect a child's ability to sit, crawl, stand, and walk.

With that foundation established, the book offers dozens of practical, easy-to-follow exercises that address specific areas of motor delay and development, including:
Head control;
Muscle tone;
Proper positioning;
Involuntary movements;
Stretching and flexibility;
Balance and coordination;
Strength training.

The exercises are illustrated with photos, and many present one or two variations, which take into account a child s preferences and skill level. Additionally, every chapter includes profiles of children in therapy, and a set of frequently asked questions on the chapter topic.

With Teaching Motor Skills, parents will be more knowledgeable about their child's unique set of strengths and weaknesses, and better able to contribute to his motor development. As the book emphasizes, learning new skills depends upon many factors, including the reinforcement of at-home therapy and good cooperation and communication between a child s physical therapist and parents. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (22)

Good reference
Nice to have around as I never remember all the PT tells me and I can use this as she grows

Feedback
Great book recommended to me. Thank you for the prompt service and delivery .....completely hassle free.

Nice to have on the shelf
I bought this book when my child was first diagnosised with quad cp - during his first year of life.He's now 2.5 years old and has just now reached a point where some of the ideas are useful.Parents of more severely affected children should not expect to get alot of use out of this book early on.Of course, you may not yet know that your child is severely affected early on.But if you find your child cannot do the things suggested in this book - just put it away for reference later.I'm still on the quest for the best book for early on...

Book review
The book is practical and useful. We are using it for a project to teach volunteers about helpful basic skills working with special needs children.
All of them have reported it to be very interesting.

Great book!Should have in your collection
As an EI PT, I usually work with a lot of children with hypotonia and prematurity of birth concerns.This is a great resources when working with children with CP; an unfamiliar population.It is well organized and written in the developmental sequence. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

A sweet story, but not as helpful as it could be
I give much kudos and love to Marie's family.Every journey is difficult and valuable.I have to agree with other less-than-perfect comments here that the book could have been more.A very short story with a glossing over of important issues that affect the lives of parents and children working with CP.While of course happy for Jimmie, it does not encourage the parent who has worked for years on the most basic of mobility skills; rolling over, sitting up- for some children the road is much longer.
Money is often short when a child has special needs, save the funds and borrow this sweet story from a friend.

A book for all parents of a child with Cerebral Palsy
The case of Jimmy is not so rare. As a 41 year old man with CP, my story is not very different than Marie Kennedy's son. I also walked with canes, attended public schools, and have no speech impairments. I now live alone with only the aid of personal care assistants, although I don't need any help with toileting, just showering. I do believe Jimmy's story should be read by all parents of children with CP. Because although her son's case might not be typical, whatever that means, it can provide the motivation to "never give up" which is extremely important. For you see, if my parents had listened to the advice of their doctor, I would now be living in an institution. He said I would be better off if they didn't try to raise me at home. I not only graduated from high school with my class, I also went to college and earned an Associates Degree in Business. There is nothing more powerful than a parent's love.

Charming but ultimately a bit deceiving
Marie Kennedy's short biography of her son's toddler years and experience with CP is entertaining and charming but parents of young children with Cerebral Palsy may find themselves depressed by it.I know my husband and I did.Why?Her son, Jimmy, has CP, but just a few short weeks after beginning physical therapy begins walking with the aid of braces, gait trainer, etc.He continues to make similar magnificent gains.In fact, the picture of him on the front of the book using crutches is actually quite deceptive as the time he spent with crutches was I think less than six months.By the end of this very short bio, Jimmy at the age of five is walking, is fully toilet trained, is attending regular school, and has no speech impairments whatever.As the mother of a child whose gains in physical therapy are measured in time spans of years, who may never walk, and who is virtually non-verbal, I applaud Jimmy's and Marie's achievements, but I don't find Jimmy to be a typical toddler or infant with CP.Although there is certainly nothing wrong with many of Marie's "tips" and her book is charming and entertaining, I think many CP moms may find her book a bit depressing.I would avoid this book if your child has more than a mild case of CP.

A good read
Overall this book was a good read.My son is 9 months old and was recently diagnosed with CP.I'm the type of person that wants to know all of the information I can, read all the books that I can, explore whatever website I can find - to do what I can to help my son.This book was a good book about the strength a mother found to do what she could for her son.The overview for this book was a little misleading - it said there were "helpful hints" on things to do to help with the CP.I guess this was what I was looking for - a book of different things that helped a mother help her son work through CP...So I gave the product a 3 star because it didn't really get into many helpful hints.

Inspiring
This book is very inspiring.I can identify with many of the same emotions.The only reason I dodn't give it 5 stars is that it is short, without longterm information on her child.I was left wondering "How's he doing now?"I think parents of CP kids always wonder how they are going to be when they "grow up."And this book ends when the child is still very young. ... Read more

Product Description
A revised and updated edition of this classic primer for parents provides a complete spectrum of information and compassionate advice about cerebral palsy and its effect on their child's development and education.

The second edition, written by the same team of medical specialists, therapists, educators, and parents, covers these important areas:Diagnosis, Medical Issues, Family Life, Legal Rights, Early Intervention, Coping, Therapies, Treatment, Development, Advocacy, Special Education, Daily Care.

New to this edition is information on the latest treatments for seizures; medications for muscle spasticity and drooling; treatments for gastroesophageal reflux; communication devices and toys; advice on dealing with insurance companies; inclusion during preschool years and important changes to special education laws, plus much, much more.Other helpful information includes a glossary, reading list, and resource guide.Comprehensive and up-to-date, this guide is one that parents will refer to time and time again during their child's first six years. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

please consult adults with CP
It makes sense that books like this would be directed to parents b/c parents care for their children and when there is a disability/impairment, or other condition such as health issue, parents will be doing the care.However the literature on CP has been criticized for focusing too strongly on "the pediatric patient" and not looking at adults.

The truth is that people with CP grow up.

It is tempting to see a child's CP as a list of problems, such as eating/swallowing, walking, use of hands, etc. and then be thinking about dislocated hips, dealing with spasticity and etc.However when adults with CP are asked what made the most difference for them, they say speech/communication therapy.This is in contrast to other approaches which tend to stress walking pretty heavily.

Walking is important.In my view, speech/communications is more important.Without that, it's hard to feel human.

I have various mild issues and then I've had severe speech trouble, which involves not only the mechanics of speech production (dyspraxia) but also language comprehension and processing.This could be called 'aphasia' although I'm not quite sure that's the most accurate name......there are a couple of types and the ones I probably have are 'anomic aphasia' which is a problem with a type of word, in this case, NOUNS, and Broca's non-fluent aphasia, in which words are produced slowly and with great effort.

It is very common in CP for speech to be affected and I've found that to be true.I have had years of in-depth speech therapy which was combined with psychotherapy b/c I was in psychotherapy anyway and it was much better to do them both with the same person.I had a lot of FEELINGS about not being able to speak well.I have worked hard for over 8 years and things are improved.I would say my speech varies from poor to good, depending on the situation.This is much improved over what it used to be but I hope in another couple years I will really be more or less good at it.

It is important to find someone who knows what she is doing to treat it.I called a speech pathologist and mentioned aphasia and she said, based on about 1 minute listening to me, that I sounded fine.This was completely untrue.I could string a couple sentences together.This did NOT mean I could speak well, at all.

My therapist did a lot of research into CP.She said for the first couple of years, I spoke "very little" and then I progressed to speaking "little."Then she said listening was hard b/c I sounded like a lecturer who was speaking very softly and it was hard to hear what I was saying.Or else someone who was speaking using a microphone with static and the static kept interfering with her understanding of what I was saying.Those were the analogies she used.

I would tend to slur my words.For a long time I compensated for this and pushed words out with effort but I started speaking naturally.Also my neurological capacity was limited.I felt that most people had something like four feet of snow on their lawn which was their speech reservoir.They would speak from it, the snow would go down, and then the snow would fall and it would go back up again.

As for me, I felt I had about 1/2 inch of snow on my lawn.A few effortful sentences and it was gone.This is about neurological capacity/understanding, not physical production, although that was challenging too.I often felt that I was "pulling" words and concepts into my head from outside it.

Music is a lot easier for me and I've used that to help with speech.

Many times the frustration of being in TALK therapy when I could not SPEAK much has been intense but I've made extensive use of e-mail to communicate outside therapy sessions and that's helped a lot.And then the reality that when there is substantial improvement, it is very rewarding.

I had a very understanding doctor notice this.He knew that I was anxious and I was talking to him about how I was doing, and he assumed (as others have done) that I needed some kind of reassurance that I was doing well, so he told me that.And then I opened my mouth and said some things that were not psychotic or bizarre in that they did not make sense but - they showed I had not understood him, at all.

He had been examining me and had started to straighten up and stopped when he was still a little stooped over and said very calmly, 'let's go down the hall to have your lungs tested,' which was the next thing to make sure I was OK.

Well originally, he had talked to me about being reassured b/c more than likely, my lungs were in good shape.I got back in his office and suddenly my lungs were not a priority."Your lungs look fine," he said dismissively.He had a laptop out and was going down a list of questions, at least some of which had to do with speech comprehension.

One of the questions was, "Do you know the names of the allergy medications you are taking?"And I said:

"I take astelin every day.....and.....nasacort....in the springtime.....and then I take.." (and then I proceeded to mess up the name of the next medication.I was on 4 in total and one was for asthma and another for bronchitis/colds and I said the wrong one.I now can't remember which one I said.)

And he said no, you take...(and filled in the name of the right medication).

I started to apologize and he said, STOP.You are being too hard on yourself.

During this time I spoke very slowly and had to look to the left b/c I could not look at him and focus enough to talk at the same time.

After going down his list of questions, he was relieved and said, it seems like you are seeing the right person - for speech/psychotherapy - but then I had not asked him that.

He took the responsibility to make sure things were OK when he saw I had a problem, even though it was not his "job."I see him once a year and he has always been a very good listener.

So sometimes doctors are really good.However the challenge with CP is to deal with it while also keeping in mind, WHAT is MOST IMPORTANT for quality of life?Books like this, which go over, brain damage, difficulty with various muscles and etc. often don't tackle that.They can view the child as a person with a lot of problems, which is often true, and here is how you treat the lot of problems, but which problems are most painful/difficult and what treatment will help the most?To learn that, one needs to think about the psychological needs of the child and not just, here is a whole bunch of pathology that requires working on.

It's not a bad book, and it does provide a good overview, but I'm not sure the authors keep in mind that what is important to the child, and even the family, involves psychological considerations and personal preference (such as, if there is limited movement, maybe the child wants to draw instead of working on handwriting).

And when adults with CP have been asked what helped them most, they often say speech/communication therapy.Talking to adults might be a good idea, in addition to reading and using this book.

This is not about not working or not trying hard, but rather about thinking about the child as a person who wants to express herself in certain ways, and working on that, in addition to all of the issues covered here which are, how to deal with various problems like spasticity and muscle group issues and etc.

Walking is important but speech/communications is very important too.They address speech therapy but it comes across to me as one of a number of topics that is addressed.The idea that the child should be consulted, and what is worked on should be prioritized based on the child's and family's comfort level and preference, is something that I think does not get enough attention here.Speech/communications therapy can take a very great deal of work.It is possible to do it at some level such as a few hours a week, but to pursue excellence in written and/or oral communication, it may take a lot more than that.That MAY be more rewarding than something like, spending a lot of time walking.

I think these issues need to be discussed with an expert doctor and also talking to adults with CP is a good idea.

Children With Cerebral Palsy: A Parents's Guide
This book is informative and an excellent resource for families with a child who has been diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy.When my grandson was recently diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, I had no idea what it was or how to deal with it.A friend gave me a copy of Children With Cerebral Palsy: A Parents' Guide and I started reading it immediately.It helped me understand what Cerebral Palsy is and provided information that helped me obtain intervention and appropriate therapy to help my grandson.It included information about the rights of individuals with special needs as well as suggestions in planning for the future as children with special needs approach life as an adult.I continue to use this book on a regular basis as a resource guide in helping my grandson develop to his full potential.

This book is old information
This was the first book I bought when my grandson was diagnosed with spastic diplegia. I found no hope in it and continued looking until I found Advanced Bio-mechanical Rehabilition. Their web-site is www.blyum.com. We have been doing ABR for six months and the changes are miraculous. Finally something to actually help our kids physically instead of teaching them to deal with less and less movement as they age.

Children with Cerebral Palsy: A parent's guide
What a great book, it covered every issue that we have experienced with our child and made me feel better as a parent!

Children With CP: A Parents' Guide
This is an excellent "from the beginning" book.It is a great resource for parents with any special needs child to help them navigate the services available for their child.

The information on CP was written in a format that is easy to follow, and gives you the vocabulary as well as the questions to ask of your providers.

... Read more

Product Description
Treatment of Cerebral Palsy and Motor Delay is first and foremost a practical book, a distillation of Sophie Levitt's considerable experience in treating those affected by cerebral palsy. This fifth edition outlines therapeutic approaches and suggests treatment and management options, providing a wealth of practical information, supported by clear diagrams and photographs, on assessment, management and treatment. The book emphasises an eclectic, holistic approach, and integrates current ideas on motor control and motor learning in a further development of Levitt's Collaborative Learning Approach. This new edition provides greater commentary on evidence-based practice, as well as practical, updated information on the use of Botulinum Toxin, orthopaedic surgery and the therapist's role following these procedures. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Excellent choice
As an Educator and parent of children with CP I was thrilled with this book.
It helps my girls identify with other kids who do things they do.It is also
great to share with classrooms to increase awareness and understanding with
kids who don't have disabilities.

Stretching Ourselves: Kids with Cerebral Palsy
What a fantastic book!!!I was in search of a book for my 2nd grade teacher to read in the class.My daughter has CP and is in a typical class (inclusion).Many of the children did not understand why my daughter "scribbled" or had an aide (whom they mistaken for her mother!) and the many, many questions.The teacher found this book to be so helpful that she shared it with the staff and principal.I now am purchasing a copy for the school library!!!

Stretching Ourselves
My three and a half year old has mild cerebral palsy and really enjoyed reading about other children with CP.She gets frustrated with stretching and was excited to know other kids experience the same frustrations. Her older brother liked reading the book, too.We also liked that it showed children with different degrees of CP. ... Read more

Product Description

When a child has a health problem, parents want answers. But when a child has cerebral palsy, the answers don't come quickly. A diagnosis of this complex group of chronic conditions affecting movement and coordination is difficult to make and is typically delayed until the child is eighteen months old. Although the condition may be mild or severe, even general predictions about long-term prognosis seldom come before the child's second birthday.

Written by a team of experts associated with the Cerebral Palsy Program at the Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, this authoritative resource provides parents and families with vital information that can help them cope with uncertainty. Thoroughly updated and revised to incorporate the latest medical advances, the second edition is a comprehensive guide to cerebral palsy.

The book is organized into three parts. In the first, the authors describe specific patterns of involvement (hemiplegia, diplegia, quadriplegia), explain the medical and psychosocial implications of these conditions, and tell parents how to be effective advocates for their child.

In the second part, the authors provide a wealth of practical advice about caregiving from nutrition to mobility. Part three features an extensive alphabetically arranged encyclopedia that defines and describes medical terms and diagnoses, medical and surgical procedures, and orthopedic and other assistive devices. Also included are lists of resources and recommended reading.

Praise for the first edition of Cerebral Palsy:

"Addresses the many complexities and uncertainties related to this diagnosis. At the same time, it provides the information parents, grandparents, caregivers, and health professionals need -- everything from medical, educational, and psychosocial implications to wheelchair maintenance and dental care." -- Exceptional Parent

Customer Reviews (8)

Great Book on learning how to care for a child with Cerebral Palsy
This review gives a brief overview on caring for a child with diplegia from birth to 18 years of age. Overall I think this is a great book. The question and answer style makes it very easy for anyone to understand. It goes into a lot of detail about cerebral palsy and how to care for a child with it.

Parts of the book:

Part I Cerebral Palsy Handbook

This section gives an overview of the basics of cerebral palsy including the definition of it. It also talks about the medical problems associated with cerebral palsy and the development problems a child with cerebral palsy may have growing up. It then goes into detail about hemiplegia, diplegia, and quadriplegia and the differences between them. It also says how to care for a child with each of these diseases at the different stages of his/her life. The book then goes into detail about the different aspects of your child's life, including healthcare, education, and legal and how the parent should approach each one.

Part II Caregiving Techniques

This section focuses on caregiving and specific techniques. It includes seating, wheelchair use, braces, casts, shoes, feeding, taking medicine, and many other techniques that may come up while caring for a child with cerebral palsy.

Style and Structure

The book is set up as a question and answer style. It breaks up basic caregiving by the child's age: birth to one year, one to three, four to six, seven to twelve, and thirteen to eighteen. Each age group answers different questions that usually come up during a child's development at that age period.

Outline of Specific Parts of the Books

Diplegia

This section gives a good introduction of diplegia, saying what it is, what the symptoms look like in a child, and the degrees of severity. The majority of children with diplegia usually attends regular schools and become independent functioning adults.

Birth to One Year

"This first year sees the development of many milestones, such as head control, reaching out for a toy, sitting, starting to vocalize sounds, and finger feeding." This is a good section on whether it is possible to diagnose diplegia this early. Most parents want their children to excel very fast buy there is a wide range of development time for premature babies so it's very hard to diagnose cerebral palsy this early. The most common symptom of a child with diplegia is stiff lower extremities. This should be able to be seen by the six month mark which means he or she does not have severe diplegia.

Age One to Three

"This is the age at which the characteristics of diplegia become more noticeable, mainly because, unlike other children at this age, the child with diplegia is not walking." This is a good section about indications that your child may have diplegia. It stresses the importance of a specialized school environment so the child can participate in physical therapy and learn social skills. It also stresses that a parent should not force the child to sit, crawl, or walk a certain way. Let the child do what's comfortable for them and allow the therapist to correct this problem.

Age Four to Six

"This is the age range at which the child with diplegia makes the most significant physical improvement in motor function." This is a great section about walking and what to do if a child is not walking yet. During this time period the child makes major improvements in motor function. He/She should be in a regular school and focus on cognitive issues not therapy. A child using a walking aid for mobility to move around with the other children is not a bad thing. If a child is not walking yet, then this is usually caused by a problem in balance, muscle coordination, spasticity, or leg alignment. Each of these reasons should be looked into closely so the problem can be addressed and fixed.

Age Seven to Twelve

"By the time a child reaches this age, the rate of physical improvement has leveled off in areas such as balance and coordination, and it's a good idea to refocus the child's attention away from additional physical improvement and toward intellectual learning." This is a good section on when a child should stop physical therapy and do more outdoor or social exercises such as sports and adaptive P.E. usually by age 8-10 a child has reached maximum walking ability. This will usually decrease a little when a child hits puberty and gains height and weight because walking becomes harder during this changing period. Any significant problems in walking should be addressed with surgery at this stage.

Age 13 - 18

"During this time period of a child's development, a major issue is separating from the family." This is a great section for parents on how to cope with their child growing up and give them more freedom. Parents should let their child have some freedom and be independent.This is a good section on how to let your child make decisions on his/her own and learn from them. It also says how to compromise and let the child make smaller decisions so they feel important. Parents should also understand that their child may regress some from increase in height and weight.

Summary of Opinions

Overall this is an excellent book on caregiving for a child with cerebral palsy. It is broken up well into different age categories and addresses major issues such as walking (using braces, crutches, wheelchair), surgery, schooling, and therapy. It also talks about healthcare and how often checkups should occur. It goes into good detail about the problems your child will face and how to handle them.

After reading this book, I would feel comfortable taking care of a child with cerebral palsy. It helps you not to panic because nothing you see your child struggle with will be out of the ordinary. It also does a good job of breaking up the different forms of plegia (hemiplegia, diplegia, and quadriplegia) and the differences between them.

Recommendation

I would recommend this book to any parent raising a child with cerebral palsy. It is very easy to read and does a nice job breaking up the major aspects of a child's life: school, healthcare, walking, and therapy. The question and answer format allows the reader to look at the common questions about raising a child with cerebral palsy and can skip over areas if they wish.

Good Reference - Not a How-to
I gave this review 3 stars, because this book is really not what it claims to me - a guide for caregiving.What it *is* is an excellent reference that describes cerebral palsy fully, the medical implications, and treatment options.I does not go into detail about caregiving - things I would be looking for with this title are safe bathing techniques, how to administer meds, safe feeding techniques, transporting, etc.I think it's a decent reference - although you can probably find most of this info on the web these days.But if you are looking for specific caregiving information, this is not it.

A Must Have!
I have an 18 month old with CP and boy do I love this book!It has given me the most concrete information about my son's condition to date.If you have personal experience with CP you know that there is no set timeline for progress - each child is unique in his or her CP experience.This book enabled me to envision a timeline for my son's progress for the first time.It has given me hope and is an excellent resource.

This book is organized in a way that gave me the information I wanted to know first, right at the beginning.I didn't have to search around for it.The authors have great sensitivity to and understanding of families dealing with CP.They manage to be empathic in their writing while delivering technical information.The book concludes with an incredibly useful "Cerebral Palsy Encyclopedia" which is a must have for any one with a child who has CP.

If you have a child with CP or work with families with children with CP, get this book!

Cerebral Palsy; A Complete Guide for Caregiving
I have never reviewed anything on Amazon, although I've purchased hundreds of items through them, but I just HAD to review this book. It is truly wonderful! It's so informative and well written. It explains medical terms so that it is easily understood by the average person. As a parent of a child with CP, this book answered all of my questions. I HIGHLY recommend!

Cerebral Palsy: A Complete Guide for Caregiving (A Johns Hopkins Press Health Book)
I am very interested in children with cerebral palsy in Korea.
Because of easiler explaination basic concepts, y bookI am very impressed this book.
This book is helped in teaching introduced children with cerebral palsy in Korea.
... Read more

Product Description
Fundamental to the successful treatment of children with cerebral palsy is the cooperation of parents in home handling. The long-awaited new edition of this classic and popular text has been expanded and updated to include a wealth of new information for therapists, nurses, parents and carers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Not that helpful for the price
Apparently this book has been taken over as a textbook, so the price is now higher than I think a guide for parents should be.I am a the mother of a 2.5 year old with moderate-severe cerebral palsy.I've had it for about a year and so far I haven't really found it that helpful.Most of the position ideas and activities presented have been above my child's level of functioning.Isn't that a big downer?!I have found this to be true of most books on the subject.There is so much that can be done for kids like mine.It would be nice to have a book that would go into detail about how to interact and engage the more severe kids.The most helpful resource I've found so far is the movie "My Left Foot".

Excellent 1 of my 2 'must haves' for parents & professionals
I'd been a special education teacher before our son was born, then served for 15 years as a Developmental Disabilities Specialist (mental health DD case manager). Now I'm back with special education, and our son, who has multiple developmental disabilities himself, is doing wonderfully. I came across Nancie's book by chance when our son was 1 year old when an OT checked in Nancie's book in my presence. After seeing how valuable it was (it was used as a text book at PSU at the time) I determined I would not go home (two hours away) until I owned a copy! That was an excellent decision.

Even after 20 years, I still useNancie's book.I recommend her book to everyone who loves, lives with, or works with young people with ANY type of motor impairment. It has many useful applications. For instance, it describes ways to play, set up a room, cope, physical handling, toileting, eating, sleep, ways to make stuff inexpensively, enjoy, and it also describes typical development, grief, and growth. Her illustrations are simply and convey useful information in realistic situations. Nancie writes forthrightfully and constructively. Challenging, too, in a bracing manner. There is no wallowing in pity or mincing of words. Yet, in all of this, Nancie conveys positive acceptance, focuses on forward movement, and she somehow shares that disabilities, after all, are part of all that is normal. Then she sets about showing you how to teach, love, and care for a child.

If you want an informative, practical "how to," this is the book you want. I've always felt, as a parent, that this book is something like having a PT/OT/friend/teacher/mentor in my pocket. That is in spite of being a special educator, myself. Someone who supposedly knows what to do. Sorry, no one is prepared for everything that can happen. Nancie provides a holistic and realistic guide... one that speaks directly, constructively, and respectfully.She focuses on taking action and on results. As a professional, her book can be very useful when working with individuals, families and/or staff.For young people growing up with disabilities, it can offer good illustrations to show how to do things.The text, however, at least in my 20 year old copy, is written for adults, not children.

This book is one of two books I'd like every person to have who lives or works with people who have motor impairments, neurological disorders, or cognitive impairments, to have.Social workers, doctors, RNs, therapists, interventionists, students, teachers, and fellow parents, this is a tool I believe you will value, use, and enjoy.(My other "must have" is the classic "Your Child's Self Esteem" by Dorothy Corkille Briggs.It is good for any relationship as well as for interacting with anyone.It certainly is not "just" for use with children.)

My best wishes to all of you who are searching for help, information, and/or direction. This book will not let you down.

Okay, but.............
I read this book when my son was first diagnosed with CP 10 years ago. It contained a wealth of useful information but also contained information on how a "normal" baby/child would develop. I did not care for that portion of the book although I understand the authors reasoning in so doing. I also read the book Children with Cerebral Palsy -- I found it easier to read. ... Read more

Product Description
The only book to deal specifically with the treatment of gait problems in cerebral palsy, this comprehensive, multi-disciplinary volume will be invaluable for all those working in the field of cerebral palsy and gait (neurologists, therapists, physiatrists, orthopaedic and neurosurgeons, and bioengineers). The book is divided into two parts. The first is designed to help the reader evaluate and understand a child with cerebral palsy. It deals with neurological control, musculoskeletal growth, and normal gait, as well as cerebral injury, growth deformities and gait pathology in children with cerebral palsy. The second section is a comprehensive overview of management. It emphasizes the most fundamental concept of treatment: manage the child's neurologic dysfunction first and then address the skeletal and muscular consequences of that dysfunction.

The book has been thoroughly updated since the previous edition, with a greater focus on treatment and several entirely new topics covered, including chapters on the operative treatment of orthopaedic deformities.

The book is accompanied by a DVD containing a teaching video on normal gait and a CD-ROM containing the videos and motion analysis data of all case examples used in the book, as well as teaching videos demonstrating the specifics of many of the procedures used in the correction of gait deformities and gait modelling examples from the Department of Bioengineering at Stanford University.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The Treatment of Gair Problems in Cerebral Palsy
Incredibly amounts of information regarding all that is gait and cerebral palsy.Could have been more in treatment including rehab/PT but otherwise excellent in understand the overall pathology. ... Read more

Product Description
Even though Chad has cerebral palsy, he can still attend school and do many of the same things as his classmates. Written from Chad's perspective, this book answers many of the questions his classmates have but may be too scared or uncomfortable to ask. Children, teachers, school nurses, parents, and caregivers will learn about what cerebral palsy is, the different kinds of cerebral palsy, and special equipment that is available to help kids with cerebral palsy. This book also includes an experiment that allows children without cerebral palsy to experience what the condition may feel like. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Chad is not Cerebral Palsy! Lots of Information - not all of it Accurate!
This book begins with an awful title and ends rather awfully too. Chad is not Cerebral Palsy! The last words in the book are: "...Cerebral Palsy is really just a very small part of who I am. In every other way, I'm just like you!" - yet all the words before it basically say the opposite. The author tries to use Chad to represent all aspects of Cerebral Palsy which isn't very realistic.

Speaking of unrealistic - the book suggests that readers can experience what living with CP is like by putting three pairs of socks on each hand. Followed by this suggestion is "That's kind of what I feel like, living with Cerebral Palsy. It isn't easy."

The fact is Cerebral Palsy affects each person differently.

My biggest question (and I really mean BIG) - Why is Chad shown so much bigger than other people in the illustrations? He's apparently bigger than either his mother or father and bigger than three siblings or classmates combined!

There are better books that I recommend (they don't necessarily deal just with CP) check them out on my Listmania List : Great Children's Books on Disability

By the way, my wife has Cerebral Palsy. She uses a motorized wheelchair and has a speech impairment. She is also the mother of two children and a college graduate. She recently started a blog BoulderMomOnWheelz at Blogspot.com

Teacher/ Parent Review
I think that this is a wonderful book to describe the experience of the child that it was written about. Individuals who have Cerebral Palsy are all effected so differently.Other than the level of severity, there are many children who are only affected in their hands and arms, legs, or only one side of their body.Some children are non-verbal or speak differently while others have typical speech.Some deal with cognitive delays and others are not effected intellectually at all.This would make it very difficult to write a book explaining the specifics of each individual's journey with CP.However,I did find that this book covers a large portion of the challenges that children with CP deal with. The author does a terrific job of explaining those areas in terms which are understandable to children.Some aspects of the disability are mentioned that are not relevant to the child that I had in mind (he doesn't have seizures or wear head gear).However, since each challenge is mentioned on a separate page of the book, you are able to skip over pages and it does not affect the story line at all.I like the authors example of how to get an idea of what living with CP (when fine motor is effected) feels like.I, also, think that the 'Question & Answer' and 'Tips For Teacher's' sections at the end of the book are valuable tools.

Teacher's perspective
I am an elementary education teacher with Cerebral Palsy.I have successfully used this book with many of my classes to help explain my disability.It explains the disability in a way that is easy for the students to understand.The students love the activity that simulates what having Cerebral Palsy feels like.I highly recommend this book. It even has a question and answer section for the students in the back and tips for teachers.

Very Educational!
What a great idea for a book!It teaches kids to accept others and at the same time they learn the facts about Cerebral Palsy.

Believe in yourself
You can do anything if you try hard enough.This book is great because it shows that even if you are challenged there is a way you can meet your goals.Just like kids at my school that are in wheel chairs still do p.e. and everything else.

It's a great book! ... Read more

Product Description
Comprehensive review of current methods of management and evaluation of the motor disorders of cerebral palsy.

• Features the whole range of orthopaedic surgical procedures with commentary on each
  
• Reviews the current epidemiology in the subject, offering perspective on prevention
  
• Provides tables of gross motor performance to assess the measure of effectiveness of physical therapy
  
• Describes methods of management, including: assistive technology, selective posterior rootlet rhizotomy, Botulinum toxin intramuscular injections and intrathecal Baclofen.

Product Description
A new title in the Resource Guide Series, this book is a practical tool providing speech-language pathologists working in schools, clinics, or medical settings with information regarding the assessment and treatment of dysarthria in children with cerebral palsy. In addition to a cutting edge review of cerebral palsy, this resource provides assessment and treatment resources and tools that the clinician can use directly with clients. Case studies round out the book, providing users with excellent models of assessment and treatment in action with this special pediatric population. ... Read more

Product Description
As a child, John Quinn had a dream of a naval career despite his affliction with cerebral palsy.After failing the physical exam, he underwent painful, self applied physical therapy for one year then successfully passed a second exam. He kept his cerebral palsy a secret from the record- keepers and medical authorities for 20 years. He hada distinguished and highly decorated career despite the pain he endured to appear normal.He served on board destroyers, a battleship, two aircraft carriers and functioned as an administrator for a Seal unit. The outside world also impacted on him further aggravating his CP when he was challenged by alcoholism and excessive grief caused by the suicide of a brother. With help, John Quinn triumphed over both, as he did the painful cerebral palsy. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (22)

When the going gets tough.....
.... the tough get going!Great Book John!Your story is very inspirational! When I feel challenged physically with my personal battle to keep my weight down - I think of you and how hard you have worked to keep your body & mind healthy!Thanks for sharing your story!

"Someone Like Me..." touched my heart and gave me hope!
My daughter, son-in-law and grandson went camping with us last weekend and brought with them a copy of John Quinn's book "Someone Like Me...". Being a sailor myself, the Senior Chief in Dress Whites on the cover caught my eye and I asked to look at it.I'm afraid I was pretty poor company for the remainder of the weekend, as I started reading and couldn't put it down.Commonality of Navy service aside, you see, my grandson Zachary has cerebral palsy, too.John autographed this copy and sent it to Zachary and his mom and dad.As it turns out, Renee, Nathan and Zachary have been Facebook friends with John for quite some time now!

Reading John's story about facing adversity and working through them to achieve his goals gave me a hope for Zach that I didn't dare think about before this.Hard work, determination and the spirit of a winner shines through each and every experience that John shares.Thanks for sharing your story, John.Thank you for your service, but most of all, thank you for hope and dreams renewed.

Everyone can!
Someone Like Me by John W Quinn is an example that we all CAN. We can get where we want to be, if we only persist and keep focused on our dream/goal. The voice in this book is soothing to my ears, it filled me with hope, encouragement and it opened the windows of light to many areas where there were only shadows, in other words, if you read this book, you will find no excuse to desist in your own dreams. Thank you JWQ for such an amazing read.~Piccola

wonderful story for anyone to draw inspiration
I was Johns classmate,i never knew the real challenges he was facing.he was always positive and kind.To overcome his adversity is a credit to him,it seems those faced with a problem such as his,should never ask why me,but how can i.the more others reach out to those who may face greater challenges,and relate to them,and show them encouragement.Johns story is one that can teach each of us we have more inside of us to give of ourselves to overcome lifes obstacles

A heartwarming, inspirational story of winning the battle with cerebral palsy
This book is a real "must read" - and not just for those with an interest in cerebral palsy. John's account of his struggle to achieve his ambition of joining the Navy, following his parents' lead and not allowing his cerebral palsy to be used as excuse for being treated differently, is truly inspirational - and you just know that however tough things got he did it all with a smile on his face!

With no trace of "why me?" or "it's not fair" John just tells it as it was, describing the lengths he went to in order to conceal or disguise his difficulties with touching insights into his family life and the additional problems he dealt with along the way, including his brother's suicide and his own brush with alcohol dependency. For me, as someone who has worked for years with children with cerebral palsy and other disabilities, it was also interesting and informative to read his description of the pain and physical discomfort he experienced - and indeed still does - as a result of his condition.

In my work I stress the importance of concentrating on the child, not the disability, and treating them -as far as is possible - in the same way as others, never ruling anything out as impossible. John took this one step further, neither wanting nor expecting any concessions or special treatment and refusing to acknowledge the words "can't" and "never" - and not only did he succeed in joining the Navy he rose, fairly and squarely and with honours, to the level of Senior Chief Petty Officer. A shining example of what can be achieved with focus and determination. ... Read more

Product Description
This autobiographical account of a young woman explores how it feels to live with cerebral palsy while struggling to have a full life despite the challenges facing her every day. Original. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Knowledge is Power!
I had the privilege of knowing Shelley and had also gone to school with her. Like most kids, I didn't fully understand her CP because it wasn't talked about or discussed in school. That was the biggest mistake the school made because I didn't find out until now that hers wasn't anything having to do with a mental disability, only a physical one. I can't believe it took me this long to come to understand Shelley wholly as a person. This book showed me what a brave and courageous mother she has who had pushed for her daughter in ways that only mothers can. This book also solidified my opinion of the health care system as it still is the same way today - not giving any information out and making patients be 150% proactive when the doctors don't give the help or info you need. It's a health care system that needs a serious overhaul for this reason. This book showed me what a loving family Shelley has - which I already knew, but never to the extent that I have found out. Since her CP was never brought up in school, and we were never required to take a class that explained it (I think health class briefly glossed over it), most of us didn't know what Shelley could and could not do. I, like many, believed that she was limited in everything - not knowing the real God's honest truth. This provided that horrible buffer, this not knowing, and made it harder for Shelley to navigate the social landscape of school. Knowledge is power and if only we, her classmates, knew, it would have made life easier on her as well as us! It's terrible to think of how much time went by before I could realize this gem of information. I loved her stories of her family and her humor. This was a very quick read and only because I am fascinated by this girl's strength. I would love to see this book as mandatory reading in schools. Kids need to understand and embrace differences - not just the cultural ones (which are stressed in schools) but other kinds of cultures as well (deaf, blind, gay & lesbian, developmental disabilities). I am so glad Shelley did so well with this book and is doing so well in life. I hope that she continues to write and lets us know how life has been since she turned 21!

Shelley Nixon's poetry
I am priviledged to know Shelley and to work with her in a volunteer theater group to which we both belong.Shelley is one of the most uplifting, positive people I have ever met.She meets her disability and its challenges without hesitation every day.Shelley's poetry is often featured in the performances that the group does, and her writings are always greeted enthusiastically by the audience.The poetry in this book is honest, forthright and does not gloss over the hardships of being disabled.Instead, Shelley's book and her life offer other people a view of someone who deals realistically with CP every day, and does not let the disability hold her back from living her life fully.

Quietly moving bio of a young woman
Shelley Nixon was born with Cerebral Palsy. Many readers will expect an informative look at CP, along with an emotional description of dealing with a disability.

Instead, we get a straightforward look at a young woman looking back on her childhood and adolescence. Shelley's CP is, of course, the catalyst for a lot of her life's events, but she refuses to devote her autobiography to her disability. Instead, she writes, with funny and honest prose, about childhood, friendships, family, crushes, and art - all things important to her. She doesn't shy away from descriptions about her physical limitations and numerous surgeries (and the emotional struggles of dealing with her disability), but she refuses to be defined by Cerebral Palsy, in both her book and her life. She may not be as introspective in "From Where I Sit" as you might like, but insight can be found in her poetry, particularly "A Tree For Me."

Shelley Nixon may one day write a book about her disability, but first, she chose to write about herself. That alone is a strong statement about embracing one's own abilities.

Great book!
I am a senior Rehab major at Indiana University of PA and I have had over 5 years of experience working with people with CP and other disabilities. I started off having to read this book for a class and loved it! I could not put it down!! This book is an excellent source for anyone who may or who already does work with people with CP. It would also be good for people with CP because it shows everything she had to overcome throughout her life and now she has written a book when many people said she couldn't!! It allows you to view her through her point of view without prejudice and discrimination.What Shelley writes about is everything i have seen with persons with quadriplegic CP.This is not a depressing book. It is inspirational and very eye opening.

Sad portrayal of life with cp, lacking positive outlook
Based on the positive reviews I read here, I bought two copies, hoping to give one to a young girl with cp, struggling to cope.I was looking for a positive role model for her, someone with a hopeful outlook, who had developed as a person despite their disability. This book is not that.I will not give it to this girl, or give to other students to read.I found this book a very sad autobiography of a girl's life.It was mostly a chronological listing of her life's events.She only touched on the subject of her emotional struggle with cp, but she gives no advice to others in her shoes, leaving the reader to wonder if she herself has emotionally come to grips with her disability.Not a book of success despite adversity that would serve as a model for others in similar circumstances. ... Read more

Product Description
This exhaustive resource is the definitive guide to the interdisciplinary care of children with cerebral palsy. Based on the team approach developed at the Cerebral Palsy Clinic at the Children's Seashore House and at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia,Caring for Children with Cerebral Palsy was written by pediatricians and orthopedic surgeons as well asphysical and ocupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, social workers, educators, and administrators.

This daily-use handbook delivers detailed information on a multitude of issues relevant to treatment and supports so that you'll find the perspective you need to make sound, team-based caregiving decisions. Presenting a conceptual framework for care delivery and emphasizing goals for development and competency in family and community settings, this in-depth,practical reference is a must for physicians,workers, home visitors, and families. ... Read more

Product Description
As a woman with Cerebral Palsy, I strongly believe that I am qualified to share wisdom that only I have gained from my life. Also, as a professor of Disability Studies at Ramapo College of New Jersey, this memoir mayhelp the reader to understand this academic discipline.

As a professor with CP, educating future generations in university intertwines with my personal experiences. My "personal interest" in writing this memoir was not my own; it was my mother's dream to have her daughter write her life story. I wrote this memoir as a "thank you" to her. By the time the book was finished, I felt a need to publish it because I thought it might be of interest to more people than just my mother.

My life is far from a Hallmark story, and this manuscript is not about overcoming or accomplishing -- it's just a story of one life.

I am a wife to a beautiful soul. You will read about him throughout the book.We live in central New Jersey, with tons of plants. My passion is to help others to understand Disability Studies, thus my husband and I are worldwide travelers and we cherish our surroundings, wherever we may be.I have three nieces and one nephew, all beautiful and uniquely distinct. My sister is my best friend and my brothers have protected me throughout my life. My father is my hero and I'm his little girl.

Thanks, Dad.

So come with me and enjoy the journey, which happens to "Only You, Christine, Only You! ... Read more

Product Description
Articles in this issue include "Epidemiology of Cerebral Palsy",  "Classification of Cerebral Palsy", "Examination of the Child with Cerebral Palsy",  "Gait Analysis in Cerebral Palsy", "Management of Spasticity in Cerebral Palsy", "Surgery of the Upper Extremity in Cerebral Palsy",  "Spine Surgery in Cerebral Palsy", "The Hip in Cerebral Palsy", "The Knee in Cerebral Palsy", "The Foot and Ankle in Cerebral Palsy", "Orthopedic Care of the Adult with Cerebral Palsy." ... Read more

Product Description
Cornell Univ., New York, NY. Clinical reference, for pediatricians, covers trends in etiology and epidemiology of cerebral palsy, diagnostic approach to the infant, clinical assessment, treatment implementation, research, and more. Previous edition: c1990. ... Read more

Product Description
This manual is designed to provide a first multi-disciplinary, comprehensive guide to the evaluation and treatment of children with cerebral palsy. The book discusses assessment and treatment of children with hypotonic, hypertonic, athetoid, and ataxic CP as well as spastic diplegia and congenital hemiplegia.

... Read more

Product Description

This book is a derivative of Dr. Miller’s well-regarded Cerebral Palsy and focuses on rehabilitation techniques. The book discusses the theory and techniques used by physical and occupational therapists, and also provides suggestions for implementing an Individual Education Plan. Tables and algorithms are included to help in the decision-making process for determining what treatment would be most beneficial. Chapters in section one deal with fundamental aspects of cerebral palsy management, from understanding motor impairment, to evaluating equipment use, to navigating the relationship with the families of patients. In section two, physical therapists cover specific rehabilitation techniques, including neurodevelopment therapy, hippotherapy, and assistive devices. On the accompanying CD there are more than 100 case studies, as well as videos of children with gait disorders.

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent reference for CP Physical Therapy
This book has almost everything ( except specific details on therapeutic techniques) that a pediatric PT working with CP needs to know. After reading the first chapter,I got hooked on reading the rest of the book. The chapters on assistive device and gait were so intensively written. The best part, I believe, is the CD companion, with tons of case studies, pictures, and videos, that augments learning. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Best Disability Book Written
This is a heartening story that everyone can learn from. ... Read more